REPRODUCTION 1993

Vienna Breeding Unit

BG 002 x BG 003
Two eggs were laid, on the 22.12. and 27(?).12.1992. Natural incubation took place until 30.1.1993. Both eggs were fertile and well developed. They were exchanged with artificial eggs. Both eggs hatched after artificial incubation without complications on the 14.2. and 20.2.1993.

BG 010 x BG 014
Eggs were laid on 15.12.1992 and 20(?).12.1992. Both eggs proved to be infertile or to have died off at an early stage of development.

BG 009 x BG 041 034 035
The clutch was produced on 28.12.1992 and on 4.1.1993. The first egg broke during natural incubation. Exchange of the second egg on 13.2.1993 with an artificial one. This one hatched without complications on 10.3.1993.

BG 065 x BG 040 034 035
At the beginning of the breeding season severe disturbances of pair bonding could be observed. During November 1992, the female started to attack the male. She was separated for two weeks, and then joined her mate again. After a few days she was again showing aggressive behaviour. As the breeding season had already started we oncemore tried to reestablish pair bonding. The screen hiding the adjacent aviary from sight, was removed. Immediately both birds attacked together their neighbour (imprinted male BG 016, "Prasident"). From this point in time, copulations took place again and no further fighting was observed.
The first egg was laid on 13.1.1993, removed on 20.1. and hatched after artificial incubation on 7.3.1993. The second egg, laid on 18.1., hatched in the nest (13.3.1993).

BG 017 019 021 x BG 070 022 023
The clutch was produced on 1.1. and 5(?).1.1993. It was transferred for artificial incubation on 12.2.1993. The pair continued to brood on dummy egg. Although fertile, both eggs failed to hatch (died off during incubation).

BG 060 034 035 x BG 074 004 028
This young pair again produced only one egg (26.1.1993). On 12.3.1993 started the artificial incubation. The egg hatched without disturbances on 21.3.1993.

BG 136 x BG 025
This pair produced only one egg on 28.1.1993, which was infertile.

BG 031 x BG 006 019 020
Two eggs were laid on 31.12.1992 and 5(?).1. 1993. They both were transferred for artificial incubation on 13.2.1993 - the pair continued brooding on artificial eggs. On 22.2. and 28.2.1993 the eggs hatched.

Summary - Vienna Breeding Unit

8 pairs laid 14 eggs.
8 young hatched, 7 in the incubator, 1 under natural conditions.
After about one week of handrearing, all young were adopted successfully by parents or foster parents.
One young died accidentally at the age of 17 days (BG 194 oes 040). This bird was raised by a single male (BG 005 019 020). We believe that the adult male left the nest during the night (12th to 13th of march) that as a consequence the young bird was insufficiently protected against the cold. In the early morning, it was found dead in the nest. The male still sat at the bottom of the aviary below the nest. The adult male was successfully used as a foster parent during the last years although he had difficulties keeping balance as a result of a fight with his female partner years ago. This could have been the reason for falling down from the nest.
7 young were raised successfully.

Special remarks

BG 016 (imprinted male "President") was used successfully as foster parent for the first time. We started to breed together on 15th of February. One month later, 14th march, BG 193 oo9 041 was introduced into the nest at an age of five days. "Prasident" immediately took care of the young bird but started feeding it only some days later. From 20th of March onward no additional feeding was necessary.

Pair BG 017 019 021 x BG 070 022 023 still inexperienced in rearing juveniles but brooding on artificial eggs, received BG 183 031 006 on 7th of March (8 days old). Both foster parents showed great interest but only the male took care of the juvenile without feeding it. Therefore it had to be transferred dayly to another foster bird to be fed in order to avoid hand rearing. From 20th of March on, the male BG 017 started to feed BG 183. The female BG 070 approached the juvenile from time to time, but seemed to be anxious. Anyhow, she avoided direct contact with the young bird. Suddenly at the end of April, to our surprise, the female started to warm and to feed the youngster, which was by then already 2 months old! From then on it was mainly the female that took care of the juvenile.

During the breeding season 1992/93 juveniles which hatched in Zoos were again brought to the Vienna Breeding Unit to be raised by foster parents:

BG 192 152 153 was transferred from Tierpark Berlin-Friedrichsfelde on 31.3.1993. This rather weak bird, was adopted by male BG 009 and developed very well. On June 3rd, at an age of almost 3 months, it was transferred to pair BG 065 x 040 034 035. The following day early in the morning it was found dead in the nest. Unfortunately, the reason for its death could not be determined.

BG 197 131 132 arrived from Dresden Zoo on 4.5.1993. It was raised successful by its foster parents.

Summary Zoos (without Alma Ata)

10 pairs laid 15 eggs, 9 juveniles hatched, 7 were raised succesfully.

Total Vienna Breeding Unit and Zoos in 1993 (without Alma Ata)

18 pairs laid 29 eggs, 17 juveniles hatched, 14 juveniles reared

    Breeding 1993

New participants in the Bearded Vulture breeding network

Adlerwarte Berlebeck, Detmold, Germany

Vogelpark Walsrode, Germany

Both stations will receive a young pair of Bearded Vultures in 1993

Helsinki Zoo- Finland

already keeping two Bearded Vultures (BG 179 154 155 and BG 180 iei 102 - offspring of pair BG 154 x BG 155, Alma Ata Zoo, and pair BG 161 x BG 162, Moscow)

 
Special thanks to all zoos for their participation in the Bearded Vulture EEP and the Reintroduction Project. Again in 1993 all associated Zoos made their offspring available free of charge!

TRANSFERS - INCREASES - LOSSES 9/1992 - 9/1993

Transfers - Increases

BG 178
female (? - sex determination will be repeated); transferred from Detmold (Germany) to Vienna Breeding Unit on 19.9.1993. This bird was bought in 1973 from a dealer. Age not known.
Weight: 4.5 kg on 20.9.1993.
Origin: Greece. Kept for several years in Detmold together with an old male that died some years ago.

BG 179 154 155
hatched on 7.5.1981 in Alma Ata Zoo. Raised by its parents. Transferred to Moscow Zoo in 1982. Transferred to Helsinki Zoo on 4th November 1989.
Sex still unknown. Kept together with BG 180 id 162. Up to 1993 no reproduction.

BG 180 161 162
hatched on 14.6.1985 (??) in Moscow Zoo. Handreared by a German falconer (E. Lüttger). Kept in Landskron, Austria since 1986. Transferred to Helsinki Zoo on 14.5.1989. Sex still unknown.

BG 199
Age and origin not known, weight 4.5 kg. Amputation of the right carpometacarpus. This adult male (sex determination by endoscopy in the TS-Republic) was confiscated in TS-Republic by nature conservation authorities in an itinerant circus. Transferred to Prague Zoo in spring of 1993 and to Vienna Breeding Unit on September 24th 1993. The bird shows normal behaviour. Pair bonding with female BG 015 019 020 tried.

BG 201
male (sex determination by endoscopy in Moscow Zoo), about 5 years old, was transferred in 1988 from Dushanbe Zoo (Tadzikistan) to Novosibirsk Zoo (Russia). In March of the year 1992 it was brought to Moscow Zoo and to the Vienna Breeding Unit on June 16th 1993. This male has an injured wing (right carpometacarpus) but is able to fly.

BG 188 150 151
male, hatched on 26.2.1993 in Berlin-Friedrichsfelde Zoo (Germany) was transferred to Berlebeck, Detmold (Germany) on 9.8.1993.

BG 190 152 153
male, hatched in Berlin-Friedrichsfeld Zoo (Germany) on 3rd of March 1993, was sent to Walsrode (Germany) on 4th of August 1993.

BG 066 034 035
male, hatched on 16.1.1984 in La Garenne Zoo (Switzerland). Transfer to Vienna Breeding Unit (Austria) on 8.10.1984; transferred to Artis Zoo Amsterdam (Netherlands) 25. 4. 1986. Kept there with female BG 078 oss 025. On 1.9.1993 returned to Vienna Breeding Unit (female BG 078 died).

BG 125 009 041
female, hatched on 9.3.1990 in the Vienna Breeding Unit, kept there with juvenile and immature Bearded Vultures. On 11.3.1993 transferred to Moscow Zoo.

Losses

BG 038
male origin Central Asia; age unknown; bought from Berlin Zoo with already adult plumage in 1978. Kept there together with other large birds of prey. In 1982 transferred to Wassenaar Wildlife Breeding Centre. Paired with BG 025. The only surviving young BG 078 038 025 (hatched 13.2.1985) was handreared (this female died last winter; compare BG 078 038 025, this chapter). Handrearing was chosen because of aggressive behaviour of female BG 025 against the hatchling. 16.9.1993 transfer of the pair to Tierpark Dählhölzli, Bern (Switzerland). Again natural breeding and hatching were tried there until 1992. Young hatched in 1991 and 1992 but died or were killed. 22.7.1992 transfer of the pair to Vienna Breeding Unit.
BG 038 died on 25. 9. 1992 without showing any symptoms. Post mortem examination was done in Glasgow (Scotland) because of special intestinal research. Cause of death: Aspergillosis.
No offspring of this male survived.

BG 004
male; bought in 1964, already adult, by Cumberland Wildpark Grunau (Austria) and Alpenzoo Innsbruck (Austria); origin and age unknown; amputation of right wing. This male was transferred on 23.8.1977 to the Vienna Breeding Unit. In September 1982 paired with BG 027. This pair produced a clutch every year until the female died in 1987. Four juveniles hatched, two of them survived (BG 074 004 027; BG 081 004 027, both females).
Since 1982 paired with female BG 015 019 020. Every year one egg. Although all eggs proved to be fertile, only one embryo developed in 1988, which hatched with human aid but died immediately afterwards. No offspring with female BG 015 019 020.
Since 1988 the male became lame at the left leg. It died on 11.9.1992 showing respiratory symptoms (treatment with Ketokonazol).
Postmortem analysis was carried out in Glasgow, cause of death not firmly established (chronic liver pathology, artherosclerotic lesions in the great vessels).
Offspring of this male:
BG 074 004 027, breeding female in Vienna Breeding Unit
BG 071 004 027, breeding female in Hannover Zoo (Germany).

BG 026
female; 1955 imported from Russia, adult, kept in Zoo of Antwerp (Belgium) with male BG 029. No eggs were produced. On October 7th 1982, transfer of the pair to the Vienna Breeding Unit. First egg 1983/84, no mating could be observed. Egg infertile.
1984 paired with a new male (BG 013). Copulations, one egg laid (infertile). Unfortunately BG 013 died during the breeding season 1984/85.
19.3.1985 paired with a new male (BG 030). BG 026 behaved very aggressively, pair bonding only possible with the help of a juvenile bird. First egg 1987; 1988 hatched one young (BG 104 030 026). BG 030 died 1990. New attempts to pair BG 026 with other males (BG 022, BG 136) failed due to the enormous aggressiveness of that very old female.
BG 026 died on 10.2.1993. (atheriosclerosis of vessels, endocardial fibrosis).
Offspring of this founder female:
BG 104 030 026, female, living in the Vienna Breeding Unit.

BG 078 038 025
female, hatched on 13.2.1985 in Wassenaar Zoo, hand reared, transferred to Artis Zoo 1993 Amsterdam (Netherlands) in 1985. Kept together with male BG 066 034 035. BG 078 was very aggressive against its keeper and was killed accidentaly when attacking him on 30.1.1993. A bad loss, because female BG 078 was the only offspring of founder male BG 038.
BG 078 produced no offspring.

BG 071 002 003
female, hatched on 27.3.1984 in the Vienna Breeding Unit.Transferred to Nuremberg Zoo (Germany) on 17.10.1989. Kept with male BG 018 019 021. First egg laid in 1992 (infertile).
This female died at an age of 9 years on 29.1.1993.
Cause of death: leadpoisoning (artificial mud for colouring contained lead).

BG 052 161 162
female, hatched on 6.4.1981 in Moscow Zoo. Handreared by a falconer (E. Lüttger, Germany). Transferred to Vienna Breeding Unit on 2.12.1981. Transferred to Basel Zoo (Switzerland) on 27.8.1982. Paired with male BG 050 019 021, which died in 1987. Paired with a new male BG 056 002 003 on 11.10.1988.
The female died on 26.2.1993 at an age of 12 years. Post mortem examination remained without specific results. 27 and 4 days before the bird died, rat poisoning was carried out in the aviary of the Bearded Vultures with Chlorolose.

BG 056 002 003
male, hatched on 5.3.1983 in the Vienna Breeding Unit. Transferred to Basel Zoo on 11.10.1988. Male of BG 052.
BG 056 died on 8.2.1993 at an age of 11 years. Post mortem analysis: Atheriosclerosis. Cause of death: see BG 052.

BG 072 002 003
male, hatched on 2.4.1984 in the Vienna Breeding Unit. Transferred to Poznan Zoo (Poland) on 22.11.1984. Paired with female BG 067 034 035. Copulations observed in 1992, 1st egg (infertile). In 1993 a clutch was produced again (embryo died).
On 25.8.1993 male BG 072 died at an ageof 9 years. Cause of death: swallowing of a 40 cm long piece of rubber.

BG 189 150 151
hatched on 3.3.1993 in Berlin-Friedrichsfelde Zoo (Germany). This weak handraised bird died on 8.3.1993. Postmortem without specific results.

BG 192 152 153
hatched on 7.3.1993 in Berlin-Friedrichsfelde Zoo, weak bird, handreared, very diminished development. Treatment with "Boviserin" and vitamine complexes. Transfer to Vienna Breeding Unit on 31.3.1993. Reared by foster parents.
Died on 4.6.1993 after change to another foster pair. Postmortem without specific results.

BG 194 065 040
male, hatched on 12.3.1993 in the Vienna Breeding Unit. Reared by its parents and by a male foster parent (BG 005 oi9 020). Died on 30.3.1993. Cause of death: frozen to death.

Author: Hans Frey
Adress: Institut fur Parasitologie und Allgemeine Zoologie, Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien

Table: EEP stock in 1993

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Reproduction between 1978 and 1993